by Kimberly Chitwood

Created on: August 14, 2008

Wow! Yeah, you know the scene...you're going down the chips aisle and your 5-yr-old sees his favorite chips. He says, "Mommy, I want those." You say, "No, honey. We have some @ home." Your persistent child says, "But, mommy, I still want some!" You say, "No!" He says, "But, mom!" and starts pitching a fit, sometimes falling onto the floor and kicking his legs and flailing his arms. What do you do? Walk off! Just kidding. You feel like it, though, huh? There are, however, a few ways you can curb this behavior and make your trip to the grocery store at least a tolerable one, if not a pleasant one, even with children along.

If your child is able to walk around, even 3-yr-olds, he can help get items and put them in the buggy. Younger children (age 2-5) will handler lighter items better. Essentially, when you're engaging them in helping you, you're distracting them from potential fits and misbehavior, like pulling his sister's hair for the millionth time. You also let your young child bring ONE small toy with him to the store. Make sure it's one that will occupy him for at least half an hour.

Usually, when you go to the grocery store, you have made a list, unless you're on your way home from work and need to "get a few things". If you have a list, this can expedite your grocery shopping trip and motivate your child. If he can't read, give him his own pad and pencil/pen and put him in the buggy. Let him "make" his own list by scribbling on the paper "like mommy does". You can teach important pre-writing and pre-reading skills by letting your child mirror your actions in a store or anywhere else. If you have an older child and he can read, let him walk beside you and mark off the things on his list. Maybe you can let him get a couple of them. You can also give him your list and have call off things on it and maybe help you collect these items. Another thing you can do with an older child is split the list in half. You get one half, and he gets one half. Then, your grocery shopping time is cut by half. Hey, you need a break somewhere! Again, the goal is to get your grocery shopping done and still be sane (and have all of your hair when you walk out of the store).

The last suggestion is to just talk to your child. Redirection is the key. In the grocery store, if you can't possibly find anything else to talk about, teach your child about nutrition. Show your child the healthy foods on your list. In this fast-paced world where we don't have as much time to spend with each other at home, grocery shopping is a prime time to bond with your child(ren) while buying items to fill your cupboards and refrigerator at the same time.

Just remember, grocery shopping doesn't have to be boring or a phobia when it comes to taking your child(ren) with you. Make it an excursion filled with educational opportunities and a chance to bond with your child(ren). With a little imagination on your part and some discipline and strategy, grocery shopping can become an enjoyable experience. IT IS POSSIBLE!

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